Benue Tribunal: APC Shutsdown Case With 59 Witnesses
The APC and its governorship candidate, Mr Emmanuel Jime, have closed their case at the Benue State Election Petition Tribunal after calling 59 witnesses.
Jime, is challenging the return of Gov. Samuel Ortom by INEC.
The PDP was also joined in the suit.
The petitioner also tendered over 1100 electoral documents including forms EC8A, EC8B, EC8C, EC8D, EC8E, voters registers and card reader reports, manual and guidelines for electoral officials, 2019 in 384 Polling Units across 11 local government areas in contention.
Jime is challenging the results declared in Buruku, Gboko, Guma, Gwer East, Gwer West, Konshisha, Kwande, Logo, Ukum, Ushongo, and Vandeikya.
Jime, while testifying in his own defence as PW17, told the tribunal to declare him the winner of the election on the grounds that he polled 2,224 votes more than Ortom.
The petitioner’s other grounds were that Gov. Ortom was not duly elected by the majority of lawful votes and that his election was invalid by reason of non- compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended.
Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Henry Olusiyi, adjourned the further hearing until Aug. 8, for INEC to open its defence.
(NAN)